My friend, Rabbi Ilan Ginian has recently been commissioned as a full Chaplain, CH (1LT), for the U.S. Army. Rabbi Lt. Ginian begins basic training this summer and has been stationed with the the 101st signal brigade in Yonkers, NY.
While Rabbi Ginian may be new to the U.S. military, his Grandfather is a well decorated WWII veteran and his great-grandfather was a WWI veteran. Yasher koach and G-d Bless the U.S.A.!
This is an amazing time lapse clip of Cherry Blossoms complied from over 3,000 digital photos, one taken every 3 minutes from April 18 to April 26, 2008, on Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s famed Cherry Walk.
This should get you in the perfect mood for Birckas HaIlan. The blessing over trees is mentioned in the Talmud (Brachos 43b) and can be found in most siddurim in the section of brochos listed after Birkas HaMazon (Grace after Meals). It is a blessing that is made only once a year and the optimum time to make the blessing is in the month of Nissan, so hurry! The blessing is only made on fruit bearing trees and can only be made after the tree has begun to blossom, preferably before the fruit has begun to grow. The Blessing loosely translates as: Blessed are You, Hashem, Our G-d, King of the world, for nothing is lacking in His world, and in it He created good creatures and good trees, in order for mankind to take pleasure in them.
For my Bar Mitzvah project, I have been raising money and awareness for the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind. These funds will be used to raise puppies that will be trained to give independence, companionship and self-confidence to a blind Israeli. I need to raise $2,000 to sponsor 4 puppies ($500 ea.) and would be grateful for your support. If you would like to help me sponsor a puppy, please make your check payable to: Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, note on your check that the gift is in Honor of my Bar Mitzvah and send it to me, Ryan Linn, at 41-36 Christine Court • Fair Lawn, NJ 07410.
“Of the Maasei Avot Siman LeBanim of Sefer Bereshit perhaps none is more pertinent to us in the golah then the life of Yaakov Avinu. His faith and fortitude throughout his exiles and tribulations provide us with the physical strength and spiritual stamina to endure our exile. In what may have been his most difficult test, Yaakov struggles all night with the sar shel Esav. Throughout the gloom of that night, (the paradigmatic darkness of galut) the angel is unable to inflict any harm on Yaakov until he is finally able to injure his thigh.
What enabled the angel to gain this advantage?
Sforno explains that Yaakov was able to withstand the onslaught of Esav’s agent because of his total spiritual unity with Hashem. Finally the angel distracted him by showing him that in the future there would be weaknesses in the leadership of Klal Yisroel. This unsettled Yaakov and the angel was able to inflict his injury.
My rebbe, Rav Henoch Liebowitz, Shlita ( Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim ) asked that one would think that there were far more horrifying events that occurred in Galut that would affect Yaakov. He could have showed him the inquisition, the Holocaust, the oceans of blood and tears given up by his descendants? Why is this the weapon that succeeded ?
He answered that regardless of the enormity of what befalls Klal Yisroel, as long as there is proper leadership there is hope. It is only, Chas V’Shalom, when leadership falters that hope is diminished. It was this possibility that disturbed Yakov and penetrated his Dveykut.
The leadership of our people is the critical determinant of overcoming the obstacles in our path. Klal Yisroel can always rebuild and recover when there is the leadership that inspires and unites to faithfully follow Torah and Mitzvot.”
** Rav Dovid Harris, Shlita, Rosh HaYeshiva Chofetz Chaim gave over this insight from his Rebbe in his hesped earlier today.
Harav Alter Chanoch Henoch Leibowitz, zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Chofetz Chaim yeshivos (Rabbinical Seminary of America) was niftar yesterday.The levaya will take place Wednesday at 1:30 PM at the Yeshiva in Kew Gardens Hills.
There will be a phone hook-up to the levaya. The number to call is 218-936-1600 and the code is 7601147.
